Construction trades, housing activists unite

A group of construction unions have allied with affordable housing activists to push for the creation of more affordable units in the city and the use of union labor on such projects in certain neighborhoods.

A group of construction unions have teamed up with affordable housing activists to push the mayor to require the use of organized labor for the creation of affordable housing. The unions said they will begin supporting efforts to ensure that 50% of new units are for low- and middle-income families.To help make that possible, they are willing to accept wages 40% lower than normal union pay on affordable projects in certain neighborhoods, according to The Wall Street Journal.

The alliance is unusual. Most affordable housing has been built by nonunion workers, because developers and advocates argue that higher wages result in fewer apartments. The groups plan to rally in Harlem to make their case to Mayor Bill de Blasio, who has promised to create or preserve 200,000 affordable housing units across the city.